Iran Retains Majority of Missile and Mobile Launcher Stockpiles

United States intelligence indicates that Iran has retained a majority of its missile capabilities and mobile launch platforms despite recent military operations targeting its infrastructure. According to reports from The New York Times, Iran still fields approximately 70 percent of its mobile launchers across the country.

Intelligence assessments further reveal that Iran has maintained roughly 70 percent of its prewar missile stockpiles. The ability to sustain these capabilities is attributed in part to the use of mobile launchers, which allow Iranian forces to access and deploy missile stockpiles even from sites that are no longer operational.

These findings emerge amid a broader military conflict that began on February 28, 2026, when President Donald Trump announced the commencement of major combat operations against Iran. Those operations involved massive joint strikes conducted by the United States and Israel, which targeted Iranian government sites, military installations and critical infrastructure.

Following the initial strikes, a two-week ceasefire was established. However, subsequent diplomatic efforts to secure a permanent peace agreement have struggled. Initial negotiations between the United States and Iran held in Pakistan in April 2026 failed to produce a peace deal.

In the wake of the failed April talks, the United States announced an open-ended extension of the ceasefire. This extension is coupled with the continuation of a U.S. Blockade, which is intended to remain in place until negotiations are concluded.

The financial cost of the conflict continues to rise. During a House Appropriations hearing on May 12, 2026, acting Pentagon comptroller Jules W. Hurst III testified that the war has cost at least $29 billion.

This figure represents a significant increase from a $25 billion estimate provided by Hurst during testimony two weeks prior. The updated total accounts for the costs of replacing equipment and general operational expenses required to maintain personnel in the theater. Much of the initial expenditure was attributed to the cost of munitions used during the combat operations.

When questioned by Representative Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., regarding when Congress would receive a more detailed accounting of these war costs, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on May 12, 2026, that the information would be shared when We see relevant and required.

The persistence of Iran’s missile arsenal remains a focal point of U.S. Intelligence monitoring. The capacity to transfer missiles via mobile launchers suggests that the destruction of fixed launch sites has not fully neutralized Iran’s ability to conduct missile strikes.